It’s National Prevention Week!

We are thrilled to participate in SAMHSA’s National Prevention Week 2014, working to prevent substance abuse and promote mental health! Our work starts with Lane County, and we want to honor those prevention champions who have made a difference in our communities.

Last year was the first year of National Prevention Week; see the local prevention champions honored in the inaugural Prevention Week. This year, we are honoring local champions and sharing infographics each day to share how “Prevention Works” locally in our Lane County. Stay tuned each day for more info and infographics!

2014 Lane County Prevention Champions

Janet Madrone

Janet Madrone is the business manager at Oregon Medical Group’s Center for Women’s Health. She has been a champion of the tobacco cessation incentive program for pregnant women both within her clinic and to the project as a whole. When we had problems with the urine test, Janet worked with clinic staff and public health to identify the specific problems and to find a workable solution. She has taken over the enrollment process in her clinic because she wanted to see the project to succeed. Whenever there is an issue with any aspect of the project, Janet has been willing to troubleshoot solutions. Her passion for improving women’s health and providing tobacco cessation support for pregnant women makes her a prevention champion!

Basilio Sandoval

Basilio Sandoval is an alcohol & drug counselor at Centro Latino Americano in Eugene, and a longtime partner in prevention efforts all over Lane County. He has been a certified QPR (Question Persuade, Refer) suicide prevention trainer, and involved in coalition work with both the Lane County Mental Health Promotion Steering Committee and Eugene Springfield Prevention Coalition. Additionally, because of his interest in prevention and commitment as a community partner, Basilio is currently working on attaining his Certified Prevention Specialist credential. Basilio is a huge asset to the Spanish-speaking communities and passionate about improving the health of all people in Lane County.

Ronda Hatefi

Ronda Hatefi is a passionate volunteer of many talents! She has been an active part of problem gambling awareness, founding the Oregonians for Gambling Awareness Organization after her brother Bobby died by suicide in 1995. She travels all around the state giving presentations and being involved in education of youth, policy change and helping reduce the stigma of problem gambling. She is a longtime member and current chair of the Lane County Problem Gambling Advisory Committee and an active participant of the Lane County Mental Health Promotion Steering Committee.

Trillium Community Health Plan believes in the power of prevention. To improve the health of the community they have invested nearly one million dollars annually in prevention initiatives including programs to prevent two of the biggest healthcare cost drivers: tobacco and obesity. In a unique public private partnership Trillium and Lane County have worked together to train teachers in the Good Behavior Game, implemented a maternal smoking cessation program in obstetric offices and trained and deployed 36 tobacco cessation counselors to work in primary care and behavioral health clinics.

Day 5 of Prevention Week: Thursday, May 22

1,000 people in Lane County have been trained as suicide prevention gatekeepers Click to enlarge graphic

Today’s theme is suicide prevention. Every 17 minutes, at least 6 Americans lose a loved one to suicide and Oregon’s suicide rate is 41% higher than the national average. Effective intervention can be key in suicide prevention and one program, QPR (which stands for “Question, Persuade, Refer”), is often referred to as the “CPR” of suicide prevention. QPR is a brief (about 1-1/2-2 hours) training that emphasizes “asking the question” then helping the person get help. In Lane County, about 1,000 people have been trained in QPR as suicide prevention “gatekeepers.” Learn more about QPR and suicide prevention at www.preventionlane.org/suicide-qpr

Prevention saves lives!

Day 4 of Prevention Week: Wednesday, May 21

The Good Behavior Game is evidence-based practice used in Lane County elementary schools. Click to enlarge graphic

In prevention, things that seem simple are often very effective! The Good Behavior Game, used in Kindergarten to second grade, is a research-based strategy that helps manage classrooms and helps kids learn and cooperate together. And guess what? It’s proven to reduce the use of alcohol, tobacco and other drugs AND mental health difficulties by 50+% throughout the lifetime!

Day 3 of Prevention Week: Tuesday, May 20

Deaths from prescription painkillers have reached epidemic levels in the past decade, and according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, more than 16,500 people died from painkiller overdoses in 2010.

Overdose deaths are only part of the problem—for each death involving prescription painkillers, hundreds of people abuse or misuse these drugs:

Emergency department visits for prescription painkiller abuse or misuse have doubled in the past 5 years to nearly half a million.

About 12 million American teens and adults reported using prescription painkillers to get “high” or for other nonmedical reasons.

Nonmedical use of prescription painkillers costs more than $72.5 billion each year in direct health care costs.

One way to help reduce prescription drug abuse is by disposing of unused prescription drugs. In Lane County alone, 640 pounds of unused prescription medications were collected by drop boxes in the past three months. If you have unused prescriptions, find a local drop box to dispose your unused meds!

Day 2 of Prevention Week: Monday, May 19

Social Host Ordinances are evidence-based policies that make it illegal to provide an environment where underage drinking takes place, regardless of who provides the alcohol. Click graphic to enlarge.

Prevention of underage drinking is today’s theme for National Prevention Week. Of teens who drink, most do before the age of 15 which puts them at a much higher risk for addiction later in life. Most youth and young adults under the age of 21 get their alcohol from a social source – a friend, a parent, or an older sibling. Social Host Ordinances are one example of community-based prevention strategies that effectively reduce underage and excessive drinking to keep our community healthy.

Day 1 of Prevention Week: Sunday, May 18

Tobacco prevention training works! (Click graphic to enlarge.)

Today kicks off National Prevention Week, and what better way to kick it off than talking about “kicking butts!” Training local medical providers has increased the amount of support that people need to quit smoking. Prevention works!

What’s National Prevention Week?

It’s based on the Surgeon General’s National Prevention Strategy, which emphasizes that prevention should be woven into all aspects of our lives — including where and how we live, learn, work, and play — and that everyone has a role in creating a healthier nation.

National Prevention Week — May 18-24, 2014 — is a new yearly health observance that is meant to help raise public awareness of, and action around, substance abuse and mental health issues.

Additional Prevention Week Resources

Take — and share — the Prevention Pledge. By taking the pledge,
you make a commitment to preventing substance abuse and promoting
mental health and emotional well-being, and have the opportunity to share that promise with
your friends and family.

Connect With Us

The National Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence, Inc. (NCADD) provides education, information, help and hope to the public. It advocates prevention, intervention and treatment through offices in New York and Washington, and a nationwide network of Affiliates.

3 more days to turn in your video PSA for #PGAM! Head to www.preventionlane.org/video-entry for info & to enter. Easy peasy, and guess what? EVERY eligible entry gets a $5 Dutch Bros or Subway card! ...

2015 marks the second-annual National Problem Gambling Awareness Month. The National theme this year is “Have the conversation.” Click here for middle school art search information Click here for youth/young adult video contest information Register for the May 15 Disordered Gambling training The U.S. is highlighting the issue of gambling disorders with it second-annual Problem Gambling Awareness Month throughout March. An […]

QPR for Suicide Prevention training, May 5, 2015, 5-7pm. Learn the facts, warning signs and how to respond. FREE, however, registration is required and space is limited. For more information and to register, click here Related Posts: Mental Health Promotion & Suicide Prevention Trainings Upcoming Good Behavior Game Trainings

The 2015 Middle School Art Search is underway! Deadline is March 2730! ALL eligible entries in Lane County receive prizes! Create an 8-1/2″ x 11″ poster for this year’s art search. You can snail mail it or upload it here. Instructions are below! A video posted by Prevention Lane (@preventionlane) on Mar 24, 2015 at 4:06pm PDT Middle […]

Mental Health First Aid teaches you about the common warning signs and risk factors for mental health, suicidality and substance use and the resources for helping someone who may be struggling or in crisis. Whether you are a first responder, teacher, faith community leader, human resources professional, parent, employer, employee, coworker, or some other caring community […]